Fire-escape.



No. 054,780. Patented my 3|, |000. n. n. BuncHlLL.

lFIRE ESCAPE.

(Application mea on. 24, i899 WW1/0mm 1M: mams Varens cu., PHoYo-LIYHQ. wnsmnaww, D. x:

Patented .l l 3|, 1900. R` D. BURCIHLL.. u y

FIRE EseA PE,

(Application led Oct.. 24', 1899.1

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

'RICHARD D. BURoI-HLL, or GRAND LEDGE, MICHIGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersjratent No. 654,780, dated July 31, 1900. Application filed October 24, 1899i. Serial No. 734,692: (No indl.)

To @ZZ whomi may concern.-

Beit known that I, RICHARD D. BURCHILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Ledge, in the county'of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invenltion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes; and its object is the production of a simple and inexpensive apparatus intended to be permanently carried upon a building in an unobtrusive position and to be capable of manipulation by persons escaping from a coniiagration or by persons standing in the street below.

Further and subordinate objects will appear more fully hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, vFigure l is a front elevation of a building equipped with myimproved fire-escape. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the front wall of the building with my escape in position for use. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating tl1e"construction and operationof thebrake. Fig. Liis a detail plan View of the subject-matterof Fig. 3, and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of a modied form of the traveling hanger.

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 indicates the front wall of a building provided at its top, as usual, with a cornice 2.

3 indicates a rail or track extending horivzontally across the face ;of the building a short distance below the cornice 2 and pro# vided in its upper surface with a groove 4t, within which is designed to travel verticallydisposed rollers 5 at the lower extremity of the side frame-pieces 6 of what maybe termed a traveling carrier 7. These side framepieces are constructed of angle-iron and are bent, respectively,to form a vertical foot 8, in which the roller 5 is journaled, and have an upwardly and outwardly inclined portion 9, extending to the front of the molding 2 and terminating in a vertical block-frame 10, surmounted by an inwardly or rearwardly extending horizontal part l1, located above the roof of the building and carrying in suitable roller-boxes l2, bolted to its under side adjacent to its rear end, horizon tal rollers 13, en-

gaging a roof rail or track 14, having a groove 15 opening rearwardly for the reception of the rollers 13. These'side frame-pieces 6 of the hanger 7 are secured in parallel relation by transverse bolts 16, passing through the parallel flanges of the side pieces and secured as by heads and nuts, Vas usual.

17 indicates a tackle-block secured between the block-bars 18, bolted between the flanges of the side frame-pieces 6 just above the upper extremities of the inclined portions 9 thereof. This block is provided with a pair of pulleys 19, over which is designed to pass a flexible piece or cable 20, one end of which is secured to the ring of the swinging block 21, the cable being passed thence over one of the pulleys I9 back to the block around its pulley 22, thence upwardly to theblock 17, around the second pulley 19, and down into the life-saving cage or carriage 23 and through its bott-om. The cage 23 is preferably constructed with an angle-iron frame 24 and metallic wicker-walls 25, which may or may not be reinforced with an asbestos lining. Any suitable means may be employed for suspending the cage from the block 2l; but I prefer to provide a pair of angular bails 27, connected by a link 28, which may readily be slipped over the hook 29 of the block 2l.

30 indicates a hand-rail extending across the face of the building, which is designed to be grasped by an occupant of the cage for the purpose of moving the hanger across the face of the building to any desired position, it being obvious that by means of the device constructed as illustrated the cage may be raised and lowered by the manipulation of the cable 2O or may be moved by the shifting of the hanger 'to any desired transverse position, thereby presenting thevcage before any or all of the openings through which escaping persons may nd an exit. In order, however, to facilitate the manipulation of the cageby an occupant and to prevent the accidental 4precipitation of the cage as soon as any considerable weight is placed therein, I have devised a simple and ingenious brake designed to automat-icall y grip the cable and prevent the lowering of the cage and to be manually released to Aany desired extent to permit the lowering of the cage at any speed desired. At the same IOO 2 Y v I 654,780

time the brake is so constructed that it will oppose no resistance to the raising of the cage by the application of power to the free end of the cable 20.

At a suitable point in the bottom ofthe cage I provide a pair of angle-bars 31, between which the cable 2O passes. To one side of the cable, between the bars. 31, I provide a stationary block 32, extending downwardly from the upper edges of the blocks 31 and depending below their lower edges and having its face 33 adjacent to the cable inclined, as illustrated.

' 34 indicates what may be termed a brakelever, having a horizontal portion 35 located below the bars 31, fulcrumed at 36 within a bifurcation of the block 32 and extending thence upwardly between the bars 3l, where vit terminates in a flat footpiece 37.

38 indicates a braking-wedge carried by the brake-lever 34 and having an inclined face 39, movable upon the inclined tace 33 ofthe block 32, and a friction or braking face 40, designed when the footpiece 37 is depressed to be wedged against the cable 2O and firmly grip it against a stationary brake-block 41, secured between the bars 31.

The numeral 42 indicates a release-rod extending downwardly through an opening 43 in the block 41 and bearing at its lower end against the extremity of the brake-lever 34,

its opposite end being provided with a footpiece 44, by means of which the rod 42 may be depressed to cause the depression of the lower end ofv the brake-lever and the consequent release of the cable by the depression of the movable brake-block 38. Thus it will be seen that a weight within the cage will tend to cause itto descend; but the frictional contact between the cable 20 and the block 38 will cause the block to be drawn upward slightly against the` face 33, and the resistance to the lowering of the cage will be automatically increased in proportion to the weight. If, however, the braking action is not sufficient, slight. pressure upon the footpiece 37 of the brake-lever 34 will augment the automatic action of the brake untill the desired action is attained. It is equally obvious that if it is desired to permit the descentof the cage it is simply necessary to depress the release-bar 42 to cause the desired diminution of the frictional resistance opposed by the brake to such descent.

In'Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a modified form of the hanger and its mountings, said modification consisting in providing both tracks or channels upon the front wall of the building; but the construction illustrated in the preceding figures' is believed to be preferable, inasmuch as the strains are at right angles to each other, the greater part vof the weight of the apparatus being sustained by the channel or track 3 and the forward strain under the weight of an occupied cage being resisted by the roof track or channel, which being located back of the building-front may be braced much more effectively than would be possible were the track or channel mounted upon the front wall.

v While the present embodiment of my invention appears at this time to be preferable, I do not desire to limit myself to the structural details illustrated and described, but reserve the right to change, modify, or vary them at will within the scope of the protection prayed. Y

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fire-escape, the combination with a horizontally-movable hanger, of a cage,'pul ley-blocks connected with the vhanger and cage respectively, a cable passing around the pulleys of said blocks and serving to suspend,

the cage, a braking device carried by thecage and engaging the cable, a footpiece connected with and designed to effect the operation of the braking device,.and a release-rod likewise operatively connected with the brake and designed to effect the release of the cable, substantially as specified.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination with a cage, and support, of a cable suspending the cage from the support, a stationary brakeblock and amovable brake-block designed to grip the cable, a brake-lever supporting the brake-block, and independent mechanism for `operating the lever in opposite directions to elfect the gripping or release of the cable, substantially as specified.

ICO

3. The combination with a support and` cage, of a cable serving to suspend the cage from the support and passing through the bottom of the cage, one of said blocks having an inclined face,a movable brake-block provided with an inclined face in operative proximity to the inclined face of one of the stationary blocks, a pivoted lever carrying said movable brake-block and means projecting above the loor of the cage foroperating the brake-lever in opposite directions to effect the engagement or release of the cable, substantially as specified. y

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD D. BURoHILL.

ICS

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